A recent Wall Street Journal article raised a key question: how much of what we toss into our recycling bins actually gets recycled? The answer varies from community to community.

Here in Sioux Falls, we’re proud to say that only around 5% (or less!) of what comes to our recycling facility ends up in the landfill—and most of that is either true trash that shouldn’t have been placed in the recycling bin, or recyclables that were bagged, which are sorted as trash by our machines.

That’s why it’s so important to recycle loose items in the bin or use a hauler that collects recyclables bagged and gets them loose for you (some rural haulers offer this service).

The remaining 95% is successfully recycled, though some of it includes non-accepted materials like scrap metal or wood that our team has to pull out by hand to get to the right diversion business. While we do our best to divert these materials from the landfill, it slows down the process and can be dangerous for our staff—so please, stick to the accepted recycling items in your bin!

Even though our Sioux Falls facility has an excellent recycling rate, the 5% we can’t process still ends up as waste. This is a bigger issue on a national scale, but it’s important to understand locally when it comes to confusing items like plastics. Knowing what happens to your recycling can help you make smarter choices.

The Reality of Recycling Plastics

Nationally, only about 13.6% of plastic was recycled in 2018. Other materials like paper, cardboard, and aluminum cans have much higher recycling rates. Why? Because plastic recycling is complex. Different types of plastic—labeled by the numbers on the bottom of containers—require different processing, and not all plastics can be accepted.

In Sioux Falls, our single-stream recycling program allows for a wide variety of items, but not all plastics are recyclable. Focusing on the right plastics ensures that more of what you recycle can be processed.

What Works: Bottles, Tubs, & Jugs

The plastics we can recycle—bottles, tubs, and jugs—are typically labeled with numbers 1, 2, and 5. While it’s tempting to rely on the numbers, we keep it simple: stick to bottles, tubs, and jugs. These are the types of containers we can accept right here in Sioux Falls.

On the other hand, plastics like PVC (number 3), polystyrene (number 6), and other miscellaneous non-bottle/tub/jug plastics (number 1-7) often can’t be recycled. These materials are common in disposable items like takeout containers, and even if you put them in the bin, they will likely end up in the landfill. While we are constantly exploring ways to divert more materials, it’s tough for a small facility like ours to manage these hard-to-recycle items. That’s why we encourage consumers and local businesses to avoid using these plastics altogether.

Why It Matters for Sioux Falls

We take great pride in our recycling efforts and efficiency here at Millennium, but like other areas, we face challenges. Virgin plastic is cheaper to produce than recycled plastic, making it harder to find users who want to use recycled plastics. While we have a strong local system, these larger economic factors still affect which materials are recycled based on the demand for them.

You can make a difference by focusing on what can be recycled: paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, and the right plastics (bottles, tubs, and jugs). It’s also important to make sure containers are empty before recycling and to keep items like plastic bags and food pouches out of the bin to avoid contamination.

Don’t Give Up on Recycling

Plastics may be tricky, but many other materials—like glass bottles and jars, cardboard, paper, and metal cans—are easily recycled and have strong markets in our region. These items are processed every day and make a big difference in saving landfill space, supporting local businesses, and conserving natural resources. Don’t let the challenges with plastic discourage you—recycling works, especially for these key materials, and helps keep our landfill from filling up too quickly.

What You Can Do

To make sure your recycling efforts make a difference, keep these simple tips in mind:

  • Focus on recyclable items: Cardboard, paper, glass bottles/jars, metal cans, and plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs are the best items to recycle. Make sure containers are as empty as possible (you don’t need to rinse them, just scrape them out if needed).

  • Avoid problem plastics: Non-recyclable plastics like PVC and polystyrene are almost never recycled. Try to avoid buying products packaged in these materials and suggest alternatives to businesses. For more guidance, check out the Millennium To-Go Guide.

  • Take your plastic bags to drop-off locations: Plastic bags can jam our sorting machines, so take them to local grocery stores like HyVee for recycling. You can find drop-off locations here.

Moving Forward Together

At Millennium Recycling, we are committed to conserving resources and supporting local businesses that rely on recycled materials. While national recycling challenges exist, there is a lot we can do here in Sioux Falls to make sure our recycling counts. By focusing on the right materials and keeping our recycling clean, we can reduce waste and protect our land and resources for future generations.